As a child I looked forward to visits with both of my grandparents, but I especially loved to spend time with my grandmothers. The love of a grandmother was the best. My father’s mother, Grandma Hamilton, lived in California on an 80 acre cattle ranch nestled within the orchards of the San Joaquin Valley. There were many hot lazy days when I swam in their man-made lake with my cousins, cooked with my grandmother, served frozen yogurt at my Uncle’s yogurt shop, and helped feed the cattle. My mother’s mother, Grandma Beaver, lived in Idaho near potato fields that spanned as far as the eye could see. At that time she was a photographer, and I spent time with her at her home-based studio. I loved to play in her yard, and be pampered by her. Both of my grandmother’s were extremely influential to me as a young girl, and now as an adult I am thankful for the time I spent with these beautiful women during my childhood years. Unfortunately, I lost one of my grandmother’s in my early teens, but the fourteen years I did spend with her were a blessing. Even now as an adult I still cherish the motherly talks she gave me and the many experiences we shared.
In early December, I gave birth to my third child Ayla, and as with every birth came the help of the mothers. My mom, Grandma Roxann, and my husband’s and my second mother, Grandma Linda, both flew in to help with the little ones. It is fun to watch my children with their grandmas as together they built train tracks, sang songs, read books, and cuddled. The bond strengthened between my children and their grandmother’s, and it was beautiful to watch, because it reminded me of my relationship with my grandmothers when I was a child. The unconditional love of a grandmother plays a significant role in a child’s life, and creates a life-long friendship and bond.
Today as the last grandmother left for the airport to head back home, my children stood at the door and blew kisses and waved good bye. “Come back soon Grandma!” shouted my son. “We miss you Grandma! Come play stickers with me!” called my daughter. As I shut the door, my kids exclaimed “We love Grandma, Mama!” Those words said it all.
A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. –Author Unknown